MORE than 160 England fans have been refused tickets for Saturday's World Cup Qualifier because they live in Wales.

Football Association chiefs took the controversial decision, claiming it would stop trouble between rival supporters.

But the move has been blasted by angry England fans living in Wales who will now only be able to see Saturday's crunch game on TV.

One English woman, who lives just a mile from the Cheshire border, was turned down because of her Welsh address.

Last night the FA did a U-turn, confirming it had sent tickets to her and fans who appealed over the controversial ruling.

Previously, it had only made exceptions for people who had bought England tickets within the past two years, plus members of the FA's official supporters club.

In all, 163 England fans had their ticket applications rejected for the Old Trafford clash, the FA said.

Among them was England fan Nicola Eaton Sawford, who lives just inside the Welsh border near Wrexham. She has now been allocated tickets.

She said: "I am English born and bred. All of my family are English and the four tickets I purchased are all for England fans who too are born and bred English.

"I happen to live just one mile into Wales, having moved here two years ago.

"I find the FA rule ridiculous and discriminatory. The FA is a shambles.

"I assume if I was a Welsh fan who had applied for tickets in the England end, I'd be okay as long as I had an English address. How stupid is that?

"The FA needs to get with the times. Not all English fans live in England nor Welsh fans in Wales.

"This is 2004 and there are no border guards. Their policies are basically flawed and ill-thought through. They are a joke."

A FA spokesman said: "We regret the disappointment felt by fans concerning the rejection of ticket applications. "It was the only course of action that could be taken to ensure the full safety and security of all fans at the ground."

Fans would be offered full refunds of ticket prices and were welcome to appeal the decision, they added.